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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

Pathfinder RPG (1st Edition) Pathfinder RPG (2nd Edition) Starfinder RPG

Rules Index | GM Screen | Player's Guide
NPC Core / Chapter 1: NPC Gallery

Troops

Source NPC Core pg. 7
Many sections include a type of creature called a troop. Rather than being an individual, a “creature” with the troop trait consists of multiple creatures working in tandem. Usually this means several weaker foes are combining forces to be a significant threat to a stronger enemy, such as the PCs. Think of them similar to swarms in that way—an individual spider isn't a threat to a low-level PC, and an individual soldier isn't a threat to a high-level PC.

Running Troops

Source NPC Core pg. 7
The rules for troops are found in the abilities troop defenses and troop movement. Troops are represented using four segments that are 10 feet on each edge and as tall as the members of the troop (usually Small or Medium creatures). They have roughly the footprint of a Gargantuan creature, but a more flexible shape. These squares are crowded with enemies, and when the troop is reduced to 2/3 or 1/3 of its initial HP, it loses a segment to represent the loss of forces. On a grid with miniatures, it's ideal to start out with 16 miniatures or tokens clustered in sets of four to represent troops; you can then remove four miniatures each time the troop's HP drops below a threshold. For troops made of Large creatures, (like cavalry), you can use four Large-size miniatures, and in some cases, you might want to use cardboard pawns or miniatures that represent multiple Medium or smaller creatures.

Their troop defenses protect them to some degree against effects that have individual targets, and instead of standard Strikes, the troop has special actions representing their coordinated attacks. This usually includes an ability that attacks in an emanation, acting as the troop's equivalent of a melee Strike.

The rules for troops—especially troop defenses—cover many circumstances where it's important that troops are not all one entity. However, the rules can't cover every possibility, and it's best to use common sense. If a player uses an ability you don't think works on a troop, discuss with that player, and “refund” actions spent based on mistaken assumptions.

Though troops lose four squares at a time to make the encounter easier to run, when they take damage troops are continually losing members, and it helps immerse the players in the fantasy of fighting against a huge troop of foes to describe this as it happens.

Troop Gear

Source NPC Core pg. 7
The gear that members of a troop carry is usually of negligible use to PCs of a suitable level to face the troops. Consequently, troop stat blocks don't list items.